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11.3 · Sevenths & Jazz

The ii–V–I

Jazz has one move it makes more than any other: ii–V–I. The supertonic leans on the dominant, the dominant leans on home, and the whole thing lands like a silk glove. Learn to hear it and you'll find it in thousands of tunes. It's the cadence jazz is built on.

The silk landing

Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7. Each root falls a fifth. The strongest pull in harmony, twice in a row.

Dm7
G7
Cmaj7

Compare the classic IV–V–I cadence. Same destination, stiffer shoes:

Any key, same glove

Like every progression, ii–V–I is a shape, not an address. Three keys, one move.

Gm7
C7
Fmaj7
Am7
D7
Gmaj7
Em7
A7
Dmaj7

The minor-key cousin

Minor keys land the same way, with darker gloves: iiø7 → V7 → i. That half-diminished start is why the ø7 flavor exists.

Bø7
E7
Am

Game · Did it land?

1 / 5

A ii-V in a random key. Did it land on Imaj7, or stop hanging on the V7?

Listen first. Then answer.

Quiz

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In C major, the ii–V–I is…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson.Turnarounds & blues →